A container having an integrated media display includes a base having a storage compartment for holding contents and an orifice for receiving the contents into the storage compartment. A cover is adapted for coupling to the base and closing the orifice and enclosing the storage compartment. A cavity is integrated in an outer surface of the container and has an opening. The cavity is configured for receiving a media insert having at least one visual display and holding the media insert for displaying the visual display through the opening.
|
15. A cooler having an integrated media display comprising:
a base forming an ice chest having a thermally insulated water-tight storage compartment defined as a monolithic structure by insulated sides and an insulated floor for holding ice and a plurality of beverages as contents and a top orifice opposing the insulated floor for receiving the contents into the storage compartment;
a cover adapted for coupling to the base and closing the top orifice and enclosing the storage compartment;
means for receiving a media insert having a visual display with the media insert being flexed including one or more corners of the media insert being flexed inward, wherein said means for receiving includes receiving the flexed media insert through an oval opening, said means for receiving the media insert being formed in at least one of an outer surface of one of the insulated sides of the base of the cooler and an outer surface of the cover; and
means for storing and displaying the visual display of the received media insert external to the cooler.
1. A cooler container having an integrated media display, the container comprising:
a base forming an ice chest with an insulated water-tight storage compartment for holding ice and a plurality of beverages as contents and an orifice at a top for receiving the contents into the insulated storage compartment, the base having a monolithic structure formed from a plurality of insulated side walls and an insulated floor coupled to each of the side walls and opposing the top;
a cover having an exposed top surface, a bottom surface, and an insulated body, the cover being adapted for coupling to the base and closing the top orifice of the ice chest and enclosing the insulated storage compartment; and
a cavity having a rectangular shape integrated between the outer surface and the bottom surface of the cover and having a top opening in the top surface of the cover having an oval shape that is operatively coupled to the cavity, the top opening configured for receiving a rectangular shaped media insert by flexing the media insert including each of four corners that are curved inward for placement of the flexed media insert through the oval top opening and into corresponding corners of the rectangular cavity and the cavity configured for receiving and storing the media insert after being received by the top opening in a substantially planar position, wherein the top opening is configured for displaying a visual display of the media insert received within the cavity.
17. A method for identifying contents of a cooler comprising:
cutting a flexible media insert having at least one visual display to a rectangular shape four corners that can be flexed inward and having outer dimensions about equivalent to a cavity having a rectangular shape that is integrated between a top surface and a bottom surface of a cover of the cooler, the cooler having a base forming an ice chest with an insulated water-tight storage compartment for holding ice and a plurality of beverages as contents and an orifice at a top for receiving the contents into the insulated storage compartment, the base having a monolithic structure formed by a plurality of insulated side walls and an insulated floor coupled to each of the side walls and opposing the top, the cover having the top surface that is exposed and an insulated body and is adapted for coupling to the base and closing the top orifice of the ice chest and enclosing the insulated storage compartment, and the cavity having a top opening in the top surface of the cover having an oval shape that is operatively coupled to the cavity, the top opening configured for receiving a rectangular shaped media insert by flexing the media insert including one or more of the four corners to be curved inward for placement of the flexed corners through the oval top opening and into corresponding corners of the rectangular cavity and the cavity configured for receiving and storing the media insert after being received by the top opening in a substantially planar position, wherein the top opening is configured for displaying a visual display of the media insert received within the cavity;
inserting the flexed media insert including the one or more flexed corners through the oval-shaped opening on the top surface of the cover; and
positioning the media insert in the cavity in a substantially planar position for displaying the visual display through the oval-shaped opening on the top surface of the cover.
2. The cooler container of
3. The cooler container of
4. The cooler container of
5. The cooler container of
6. The cooler container of
7. The cooler container of
8. The cooler container of
9. The cooler container of
10. The cooler container of
11. The cooler container of
12. The cooler container of
13. The cooler container of
14. The cooler container of
16. The cooler container of
18. The method of
19. The method of
20. The method of
21. The method of
22. The method of
23. The method of
24. The cooler container of
|
The present disclosure relates to containers and, more particularly, relates to containers having an integrated cavity within a surface of the container for displaying a media display.
The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
Containers are used for storing many articles and contents. For example, a cooler is often used at social gatherings and celebratory events to store and cool refreshments and/or perishable foods that are consumed by guests. Often, multiple coolers are set out for guests to access the beverage of their choice, such as soda, fruit drinks, water, and alcoholic beverages. Other coolers may be used to store perishable food items prior to their consumption or have been used to store medical equipment, supplies, and even transplant organs.
To eliminate the need for someone to open a cooler to determine its contents, it is a common practice to adhesively attach a label to the outside. For example, a portion of the product packaging label can be cut to identify the branded product name and/or product logo. Other labels can be printed or hand written. Such labels can be taped to an outer surface of the cooler. This type of practice is illustrated in
It is existing practice that one cooler is used to store regular sodas, a second cooler to store lower calorie diet sodas, a third for regular beers, a fourth for lower or light calorie beers, and a fifth cooler for non-alcoholic fruit drinks. Each cooler may then be marked with its own taped display label identifying its contents. Alternatively, labeling for the cooler may consist of writing the name of the owner and/or stored product on cardboard-like material with a marker pen, again duct taping the material to a surface. Alternatively, writing the labeling information directly on the surface using a marker pen can also serve to identify its contents and/or owner.
The use of tape (such as duct tape) to attach a contents label to a cooler can require cleaning the exterior surface of the cooler after use, as once the label and tape are removed, a sticky residue may remain on the cooler surface. This may require the use of cleaning chemicals to adequately clean the cooler surface and subsequent disposal of the cleaning solution. Additionally, waste disposal is also required for the removed duct tape and the used display label. Cleaning chemicals may also be required to remove marker pen residue from cooler surfaces when surfaces are directly labeled with an erasable marker pen.
The inventor hereof has recognized a need for improving the ease of identifying the contents and/or ownership of a cooler using existing materials, reducing the clean-up requirements of cooler surfaces after use, and reducing the amount of materials that require disposal after use. The inventor hereof has succeeded at designing containers having an integrated media display for displaying and/or identifying the contents stored within the container and/or the ownership of the container. Various integrated media display embodiments disclosed herein overcome the aforementioned disadvantages of labeling containers while providing cost benefits and advertising by using existing display packaging materials as the media display.
In one aspect, a container having an integrated media display includes a base having a storage compartment for holding contents and an orifice for receiving the contents into the storage compartment. A cover is adapted for coupling to the base and closing the orifice and enclosing the storage compartment. A cavity is integrated in an outer surface of the container and has an opening. The cavity is configured for receiving a media insert having at least one visual display and holding the media insert for displaying the visual display through the opening or transparent portion thereof.
In another aspect, a cooler having an integrated media display includes a base having a thermally insulated storage compartment for holding contents and an orifice for receiving the contents into the storage compartment. A cover is adapted for coupling to the base and closing the orifice and enclosing the storage compartment. Also included are means for receiving a media insert having a visual display and means for displaying the visual display of a received media insert external to the cooler.
In yet another aspect, a method for identifying contents of a cooler including cutting a media insert having at least one visual display to outer dimensions about equivalent to an insert cavity integrated in an outer surface of the cooler, and inserting the media insert in the insert cavity. The media insert is positioned in the insert cavity for displaying the visual display through a window of the insert cavity.
Further aspects of the present disclosure will be in part apparent and in part pointed out below. It should be understood that various aspects of the disclosure may be implemented individually or in combination with one another. It should also be understood that the detailed description and drawings, while indicating certain exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, are intended for purposes of illustration only and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure.
The present disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure or the disclosure's applications or uses.
In one embodiment, a container having an integrated media display includes a base having a storage compartment for holding contents and an orifice for receiving the contents into the storage compartment. Such a container can include a cooler, picnic cooler, or ice chest or any other container in which contents are stored. A cover is adapted for coupling to the base and closing the orifice and enclosing the storage compartment. The cover can be removable or attached, such as with a hinge that rotates for allowing a user to access the storage compartment of the container that is enclosed by the cover. A cavity is integrated in an outer surface of the container (which could be the cover and/or the base) and has an opening. The cavity is configured for receiving a media insert having at least one visual display and holding the media insert for displaying the visual display through the opening.
One exemplary embodiment of a container 100 with an integrated media display is illustrated in
In this exemplary embodiment, the oval-shaped window of cavity 121 of the integrated media display 120 is offset from the recessed rectangular base (not shown) by a depth that is less than the depth D of the recessed rectangular-base cube, such that the top surface of the oval-shaped window of cavity 121 typically resides in the same plane as the top surface of cover 102. The perimeter of the oval-shaped window has a tapered profile that serves to directionally guide the corners of the media insert downwardly toward the corners of the recessed rectangular base 122 when inserted into the cavity 121 of the integrated media display 120. The long axis OL of the oval-shaped window is dimensioned to be less than L, and the short axis OS of the oval-shaped window is dimensioned to be less than W. The cavity 121 of the integrated media display 120 also includes a recessed cube having a rectangular base further defining a portion of the cavity 121 within which the media insert is inserted and retained. The cavity 121 of the integrated media display 120 on cover 102 can be dimensioned and configured to accommodate containers 100 of varying sizes. For example, the cooler 100 can be of a cylindrical design with a circular cover 102 configured for coupling to a cylindrical base 104. Alternatively, the cooler 100 may be configured as a cube having a square cover 102 configured for coupling to a cubical base 104. In another embodiment, the cooler 100 can have a rotatable cover 102 that rotates about an axis (not shown) that is defined by the base 104. In some cooler embodiments, the base and cover can include thermal insulating material for enabling contents to remain cold for an extended period. In some embodiments, the cavity 121 includes a surface adapted as a dry erasable surface that can be used with a marker pen for labeling the surface.
While the illustrated embodiment in
Referring to
Referring to
While various illustrated embodiments show a single integrated media display within a single surface, alternative embodiments can include a plurality of integrated media displays within a plurality of surfaces configured and dimensioned for specific picnic cooler display applications. It will be understood that many of the details herein given may be varied considerably by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. Accordingly, all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings should be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
When describing elements or features of the present disclosure or embodiments thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the”, and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements or features. The terms “comprising”, “including”, and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements or features beyond those specifically described.
Patent | Priority | Assignee | Title |
10413034, | Aug 23 2017 | Reusable multi-bowl device for use in hair coloration | |
10683161, | Oct 08 2015 | Apparatus for collecting and storing autographs | |
8434680, | Nov 04 2011 | TARGET BRANDS, INC | Transaction product with removable transaction card |
9205962, | Dec 20 2013 | System for segregating and identifying contained material in a cooler and process for using the same | |
9963795, | Apr 30 2013 | Asahi Kasei Kabushiki Kaisha | Gasket and electrolyser |
D704503, | Jun 19 2012 | Sistema Plastics Limited | Lid for a container |
D744040, | Aug 14 2012 | Edge lit magnetic sign | |
D921288, | Aug 25 2017 | Bowl for hair coloration |
Patent | Priority | Assignee | Title |
1468198, | |||
1647785, | |||
1857545, | |||
1867455, | |||
1889765, | |||
2252237, | |||
2614397, | |||
3016129, | |||
3020113, | |||
3025947, | |||
3130288, | |||
3241706, | |||
3347346, | |||
3371816, | |||
3424510, | |||
3710589, | |||
3777418, | |||
4018585, | Sep 04 1975 | Cooled or heated enclosure | |
4106597, | Oct 14 1977 | SHOOK, ROBERT L ; SIRAK, HOWARD D | Executive food carrying case |
4238934, | Apr 28 1978 | Shimano Industrial Company, Limited | Constant temperature box |
4243340, | Jan 02 1979 | Donald Dewayne, MacGregor; Jean Ann, MacGregor | Apparatus for the display and protection of awards |
4336883, | Jun 09 1980 | Divajex | Insulated container |
4375758, | Sep 14 1981 | Portable ice table | |
4441268, | Jul 19 1982 | Picture framing device | |
4572598, | Nov 17 1983 | SCHMIDT PROGRESSIVE, L L C | Salad bar for supermarkets and restaurants |
4574594, | Apr 01 1985 | Portable ice table with frictionally engageable leg locking mechanism | |
4662188, | Feb 21 1986 | Dade International Inc | Portable cooler or ice chest |
4785957, | Aug 19 1987 | Collapsible shipping container | |
4852741, | May 27 1988 | Portable table top salad bar | |
4979323, | Oct 13 1988 | FOURTH VENTURE, INC | Front-loading display frame |
5257509, | Aug 24 1992 | Convertible briefcase, food and beverage carriage, and mini-cooler | |
5307647, | Apr 09 1992 | LOWE, EKLUND, WAKEFIELD CO , L P A ; RESEARCH PARTNERS, LTD | Food serving refrigerant device |
5396999, | Jun 21 1993 | Lunch box container with magnetic inserts | |
5605056, | Sep 25 1995 | Cooler Ideas, Inc. | Portable cooler with suspended grate for ice-free storage areas |
5718336, | Feb 05 1996 | Lunch box assembly | |
5727857, | Oct 25 1996 | Portable knockdown food display apparatus | |
5755180, | Mar 08 1996 | SHUMEL HERSHKOVITZ | Carrying case for pet accessories |
5941016, | Jul 09 1997 | Sporting game counting receptacle | |
5975334, | Oct 08 1998 | Picnic cooler | |
6282916, | Apr 28 1997 | Scotsway Limited | Cooling apparatus |
6318114, | Mar 06 2001 | Rapid cooling food container | |
6347706, | Jul 07 1999 | Lunchbox with voice recording mechanism for message delivery | |
6370885, | Dec 28 1998 | VISION MARKETING GROUP, LLC | Point-of-sale chilled product housing |
6371296, | Nov 20 2000 | Stuffy box | |
6471059, | Nov 10 1999 | Replaceable cooler tops with sport logo | |
7040115, | Apr 23 2004 | Insulated container assembly having insertable cooling and heating gel packs | |
7299919, | Aug 06 2004 | Displayable indicia box | |
20020108279, | |||
20060289428, |
Executed on | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance | Frame | Reel | Doc |
Date | Maintenance Fee Events |
Aug 14 2014 | STOM: Pat Hldr Claims Micro Ent Stat. |
Aug 18 2014 | M3551: Payment of Maintenance Fee, 4th Year, Micro Entity. |
Sep 17 2018 | M3552: Payment of Maintenance Fee, 8th Year, Micro Entity. |
Oct 31 2022 | REM: Maintenance Fee Reminder Mailed. |
Apr 19 2023 | EXP: Patent Expired for Failure to Pay Maintenance Fees. |
Date | Maintenance Schedule |
Mar 15 2014 | 4 years fee payment window open |
Sep 15 2014 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
Mar 15 2015 | patent expiry (for year 4) |
Mar 15 2017 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 4) |
Mar 15 2018 | 8 years fee payment window open |
Sep 15 2018 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
Mar 15 2019 | patent expiry (for year 8) |
Mar 15 2021 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 8) |
Mar 15 2022 | 12 years fee payment window open |
Sep 15 2022 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
Mar 15 2023 | patent expiry (for year 12) |
Mar 15 2025 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 12) |